TORY LEADER ROSS: VOTE FOR LABOUR

Supporter fury over desperate Did to foil Nats

- ANDREW QUINN

THE Conservative Party has rejected the idea of tactical voting after Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross seemed to encourage his supporters to vote Labour.

Ross sparked fury among his colleagues and supporters when he suggested his own party's voters should opt for Labour at the next election if their candidate is best placed to beat the SNP.

Yesterday, the Scottish Conservative Party chairman denied Ross had encouraged Tory supporters to vote Labour.

Craig Hoy told BBC Scotland's The Sunday Show: "If you were to read beyond the headline, it's quite clear that Douglas didn't actually say that people should be voting Labour.

"He was quite clear saying that the Scottish Conservatives... will always advocate that Scottish Conservatives vote for the Scottish Conservative Party."

Hoy added: "But there is an issue that the public in different parts of the country are sophisticated and will make up their own mind."